Deontay Wilder has one eye on WBC title, not looking past Jason Gavern

Phil Jay 16/08/2014

📸 Naoki Fukuda

Future world heavyweight title challenger Deontay Wilder has an air of caution as the American heads into the most important fight of his career in Carson, California on Saturday night.

Future world heavyweight title challenger Deontay Wilder has an air of caution as the American heads into the most important fight of his career in Carson.

The 28 year-old faces journeyman Jason Gavern in a warm-up for his WBC belt battle with Bermane Stiverne later in the year and knows any mistake would end his lifelong dream of fighting for the world crown.

“I always want to fight the biggest and best fight. But it has to be the right time and the right money,” said Wilder.

“If people understand that boxing is a business before anything else, then they will understand all the other aspects of boxing.

“Most people don’t know anything about the business side and make judgments.

“Once I have that belt a lot of questions will be answered. I have had to humble myself and convince myself that my time is coming for that championship.

“I am ready and excited to prove to everybody, my fans, and haters that I will eventually be the champion.

“In facing my opponent, all I would like to say is that we are in the heavyweight division so one punch could end the fight. I am not looking past him, I’m only looking through him.

“My prize is to fight for the world title. In order to be able to do that, I must get through my opponent on Saturday.

DEONTAY WILDER vs JASON GAVERN

“My management didn’t want me to take this fight. I was the one who wanted to take it. This is giving me the opportunity to fight for a world title for my next fight.

“I know that I must stay active. Also, I know that my opponent is a tough guy who will come and try to win.

“You can’t go off of his record. You just never know how he will come out on this night. I don’t want him to feel comfortable. I want to get in and get out,” he added.

Gavern, 37, reached the final of a recent UK Prizefighter tournament, eventually losing out to Michael Sprott in London.

He has sixteen losses on his record and should, in reality, be another notch for Wilder’s impressive 31-0 KO record.